Rotary web printing press



May 29, 1945. UEHRS- 2,377,165

/ ROTARY WEB PRINTING PRESS Filed- March 17, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIHILHHIIIIII y 1945- H. J. LUEH RS ROTARY WEB PRINTING PRESS Filed March 17, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR y 1945- H. J. LUE'HRS ROTARY WEB PRINTING PRESS Filed March 17, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR;

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Patented May 29, 1945 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- i I Q I 2,377,165

ROTARY WEB PRINTING PRESS (Hans J. Luehrs, Westerly, R. L, asslgnor to'C. B. Cottrell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. I., a

' 16 Claims. (01.101-228) In rotary web printing presses .where friction clutches, driven from the press drive, are employed to drive the positive web feed rolers, the

sudden deceleration and quick stoppage of the press drive and thereby the press, will cause the web feed rollers because of their inertia forces, which are far greater than the frictional resistance in their clutches, to overrun the decelerating press drive and'traveling web and thuscause.

excessive slippage of the web.

The object of my invention is to provide means for automatically preventing this overrunning of the web feed rollers.

In my invention combined friction and free on and consequent breakage wheeling r one-way clutches provide friction drive connections between vthe press drive and the web feed rollers under starting, accelerating and running conditions, and these clutches also automatically operate to lock the web feed rollers to the press drive when the web feed rollers start to overrun the press drive.

Practical embodiments of my invention are represented in the accompanying drawings, in'which Fig. 1 represents a diagrammatic plan view,

thepress looking toward the delivery end of the Dress; V

,Fig. 4 represents an end view of one form of the combined friction and free wheeling clutches, the driven shaft of the Fig. 5 represents 1;. longitudinal section, taken in the plane of the line V--V of Fig. 4

Fig. 6 represents a transverse section, taken in the plane of the line VI-VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 represents a transverse section, taken in the plane of the line 1VII-VII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 represents a detail transverse section at one of the bolts for securing the combined friction and free wheeling clutch member to the feed roller drive shaft;

clutch being showmin may be provided for leading the traveling web in the desired path from the supply roll W through the printing mechanism P and folder F to the delivery D.

A web feed roller l and its coacting roller I' may be located between the web supply roll W and the printing mechanism P; a web feed roller 2 and its coacting roller 2' may be located be; tween the printing mechanism P and the folder F; and a web feed roller 3 and its coacting roller 3' may be located between the folder F and a pair of coacting cutting cylinders 4, l of the deliveryD.-,

In the present instance the traveling web is shown as divided into two narrow webs as it enters the folder, by the coaction of a slitter S' on the roller 2' with the web feed roller 2. A former The press drive is shown as comprising thefolwith an intermediate portion broken away, of a lowing elements: a lower horizontally disposed.

main drive shaft 1 is operatively connected; through the pair of angle gears 8, 8', to a vertically disposed shaft 9, which shaft in turn is operativelyconnected, through the pair of angle gears J0, III, to the printing mechanism P.

The .feed roller drive includes an upper horizontally disposed shaft H which is operatively connected, through the pair of angle gears l2, l2, to the said vertically disposed shaft 9.

The drive shafts l3, l4 and 15 of the combinedfriction and free wheeling clutches l6, l1 and I8 are operatively connected, through the pairs of angle gears IS, IS, 20, 20', 2|, 2|, shaft Fig. 9 represents a longitudinal section of an other form of clutch; and I Fig. 10 represents a transverse section taken .in the plane of the lineX-X of Fig. 9

In the printing press shown herein, the web supply'roll W, the printing mechanism P, the folder F'and the sheet "delivery D may all be of any well known or approved construction, form and arrangement. The usual guide rollers G 23', 23", to the said upper shaft II. The driven shafts 24, 25, 26 of these clutches are shown as the shafts of the web feed rollers I, 2 and 3 re-- spectively. These web feed rollers I, 2 and 3 are driven at progressively slightly higher surface speeds to maintain the proper tension on the traveling web.

as it passes from the web supply roll through the printing mechanism and folder to the delivery.

In the form of clutch shown in Figs. 4 to 8 incluslve the housing 21 is shown as provided with removable heads 28 and 29. The drive shaft I3 is shown as extending through the head 28 to the interior of the housing and the alined driven shaft 24 as extending through the head 29 to the interior of the'housing. An anti-friction bearing 30 for the drive shaft I3 ,is provided in the housing head 28 and an anti-friction bearing 3| is provided for the driven shaft 24 in the housing head 29. A third anti-friction bearing 32 may be provided between the adjacent ends of the drive and driven shafts l3 and 24.

The clutch is shown as including an inner free wheeling clutch member X, a spring pressed friction clutch member Y and a combined friction and rfree wheeling clutch member Z.

The inner free wheeling clutch member X is shown as secured on the inner end 'of the driven shaft 24, as by a key 33, which clutch member has a cylindrical peripheral surface 34 concentric to the axis of the said driven shaft.

. The spring pressed friction clutch member Y comprises a cup -shaped element composed of a cylindrical portion35, a side wall 36 and a hub 31., which hub is slidably interlocked, as by a, key 38, on a sleeve 39 which in turn is looked, as by a key 40, on the driven shaft 24. This sleeve 39 extends from the anti-friction bearing 3| at the .head 29 into contact with one side of the inner free wheeling clutch member X. A nut 4i which is threaded on the driven shaft 24 contacts'the opposite side of the inner free wheeling clutch member X for holding the sleeve and clutch member against displacement along the driven shaft 24.

The combined friction and free wheeling clutch member Z comprises a cup-shaped element composed of a cylindrical portion 42, a side wall 43 and a hub 44. This cup-shaped element of the clutch member Z is shown as secured to the flange 45 on the inner end of the drive shaft l3 as by bolts 46. Spindles 41 project from the side wall 43 of the cup-shaped element through the flange 45 where they are threaded to receive nuts 43.

These spindles 41 form axles on which sleeves 49 with eccentric cylindrical outer surfaces are rotatably mounted. Coil springs 50 surround the spindles 41 and act to yieldingly hold the eccentric outer surfaces of these sleeves 49 in light contact with the cylindrical peripheral surface 34 of the inner free wheeling clutch member X when the driven shaft 24 is driven by the drive shaft l3 through the clutch members Y and Z. These springs 50 will assist in causing the eccentries 49 to lock the driven shaft 24 positively. to the drive shaft l3 through the clutch member Z when the driven shaft 24 starts to overrun the drive shaft l3, as, for instance, by the deceleration and stoppage of the press drive.

A bearing ring may be inserted between the sleeve 39 on the driven shaft-2 and the hub 44 of the combined friction and free wheeling clutch member Z. a

A plurality of friction rings or discs 52. are shown as located edgewise between the hub 44 of the clutch member Z and the cylindrical portion 35 of the clutchmember Y and also flatwise between the ide wall 36 of the clutch member Y and the side wall 43 of the clutch member Z.

Very accurately adjusted pressure may be applied to the friction clutch member Y as follows:

a coil spring 53 surrounds the hub 31 of the fric- 1 tion clutch member Y between a follower 54 and an anti-friction thrust bearing 55, the lateral flange of the follower being provided with longitudinally disposed pins56 which project through the head 29 of the clutch housing 21 into contact with a spring pressure adjusting nut 51 threaded onto a ring plate 58 secured to the said head 29.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the the coinbinedfriction and outer free wheeling clutch member 2' carries the eccentrics 49' which lock the two clutch members together when the driven shaft starts to overrun the drive shaft as I by the sudden deceleration of the drive shaft.

In this second embodiment the sleeve eccentrics 49 are rotatively mounted on spindles 41 which project from a circumferential flange m at one side of the inner free wheeling clutch member X and through a ring 59 secured by bolts 60 to the other side of the said inner free wheeling clutch member. These eccentrics 49 are held lightly against the concentric inner wall SI of the cylindrical portion 42 of the combined friction and free wheeling clutch member Z by centrifugal action due to the rapid rotation of the said clutch members. These eccentrics 49' will therefore in this embodiment also act to automatically and instantly lock the two clutch members together when the inner'clutch member starts to overrun the'outer clutch member.

In the operation of the press the frictional pressures between the friction clutch members Y and the combined friction and free wheeling clutch members Z of the clutches are accurately adjusted to points where the starting and gradual acceleration up to the normal speed of the press will correspondingly start and accelerate the several web feed rollers with no slippage between the feed rollers and web. After the press has reached its running speed, the feed rollers because of their over-size would run at a higher surface speed than the web were it not for the light slippage of the clutches, which slippage causes the feed rollers to conform to web speed with a slight tension on the web. It will be understood that after the friction members of the clutches start to slip the frictional resistance of the clutches is automatically reduced.

While the press drive is gradually accelerated up to the running speed of the press it is usual to decelerate and quickly stop the press to prevent unnecessary waste of paper. Therefore, when the press drive is suddenly decelerated to stop the press, the inertia forces of the several web feed rollers are far greater than the frictional resistance between the friction clutch members, thereby tending to cause the overrunning and consequent slipping of the feed rollers on the decelerating web with the resultant danger of causinvention could also be used in connection with a press having a rewinder, sheeter, or other suitable mechanism.

iThe two embodiments of the combined friction and free wheeling clutches shown, described, but not specifically claimed herein formparts of the subject matter of my copending application filed of even date herewith, its Serial No. being 479,444.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiments herein shown andde'scri-bed, but what I claim is:

1. In a rotary web printing press, a printing mechanism, av web supply, a press drive, ,a web feed, and means automatically controlled by the speed of the press drive for providing a friction {drive connection between the press drive-and web ,feed when the speed of' thepress drive is sum- ,[cient to drive the web feed and a positivedrive 4 connection between the press drive and 'webfeed friction drive connection between the press drive and web feed roller. when the speed of the press drive is sufficient todrive the web feed roller and a positive drive connectionbetwe'en the press drive and web feed roller when the web feed roller tends to overrun the press drive due to the sudden deceleration of the press drive.

mechanism, a web supply, a press drive, a-web feed roller, and means including a driveshaft connected to the press drive and a driven shaft connected-to the feed roller, said means being automatically controlled by the speed of the press drive for providing a friction drive connection between the two shafts when'the s eed of the press drive is suflicient to drive the web feed roller and a positive drive connection between the two shafts when the driven shaft tends to overrun the drive shaft due to the sudden deceleration of the press drive.

4. In a rotary web printing press, a printing mechanism, a web supply, a press drive, a web feed roller, and a combined friction and one-way clutch automatically controlled by the speed ofthe press drive and including a drive shaft connected to the press drive and a driven shaft connected to the web feed roller, said clutch being automatically-controlled by the speed of the press drive for providing a friction drive connection between the two shafts when the speed of .the press drive is sufficient to drive the web feed roller and a positive drive connection between the two shafts when the driven shaft tends to overrun the drive, shaft due to the sudden deceleration of the press'drive. v I

5. In a rotary web printing press. a printing mechanism, a web supply, a-press drive, a web feed roller located between the web sup ly and printin mechanism, and a combined friction and one-way clutch operatively connecting the press drive and roller, said clutch having coacting spring pressed friction clutch membersoperable to provide a non-slip connection during the acceleration of the press and a slip connection during the running of the press and alsohavinz coacting one-way clutch members operable to lock the roller to the press/drive when the roller starts ,to overrun the press drive due to its sudden deceleration;

'6, In a rotary web printing press, a printing mechanism, a websupply, a folder, a web feed H rollerlocated between the printing mechanism and folder, and a combinedfriction and one-way clutch operativelvconnecting the press drive and roller, said clutch havin coacting spring pressed friction clutch members operable to provide a non-slip connection during the acceleration of 25 3. Ina rotary web printing press, a printing the press and a slip connection during the running of the press and also having coactmg oneway clutch members operable to lock the roller; to the pressdrive when the roller starts to over-i run the press drive due to its sudden deceleration.

' '7. In a rotary web printing press, a printing mechanism, a web supply, a press drive, a delivery, a web feed roller located between the print- 10 ing mechanism and delivery, and a combined friction and one-way clutch operatively "connecting the press drive and roller, said clutch having coacting spring pressed friction clutchmembers operable to provide a non-slipconnection during the acceleration-of the press and a slip connection during the running of the press and also having coacting one-way clutch members operable to lock the roller to the press drive when the roller starts to overrun the press drive due to its sudden deceleration.

cutting mechanism, a web feed roller located between the printing mechanism and sheet cutting mechanism, and a combined friction and oneway clutch operatively connecting the press drive and roller, said clutch having coasting spring pressed friction clutch members operable tOProvide'a non-slip connection during the accelerarunning of the press and also having coacting one-way clutch members operable to lock the roller to the press drive when the roller starts to overrun the press drive due to its sudden deceleration.

mechanism; a web supply, a press drive, a folder, a sheet cutting mechanism, a web feed roller 10- catedbetween the folder and sheet cutting mechanism; and a combined friction and one-way clutch operatively connecting the press drive and roller, said clutch having coacting spring pressed friction clutch members operable to provide a non-slip connection during the acceleration of the press and a slip connection during the running of the press and also having coacting, oneway clutch members operable to lock the roller to the press drive when the roller starts to overable to lock therollers' to the press'drive when I the rollersstart to overrun the press drive due to its sudden deceleration.

w'ebfeed rollers located between the web supply and printing mechanism and between the printing mechanism and the delivery, and combined friction and one-way clutches operatively connecting the press drive and rollers, said clutches having coacting spring pressed friction clutch members operable to provide non-slip connections during the acceleration of the press and slip con- 76 nections during the running of the press and also-- 8. In a rotary web printing press, a printing mechanism, a web supply, a press drive, a sheet tion of the press and a slip connection during the V e S 9. In a rotary web printing-press, a printing 10. In a rotary webprinting press, a printing 11. In a rotary web printing press, a printing v mechanism, a web supply, a press drive, a. delivery,

having coacting one-way clutch members operable to lock the rollers to the press-drive when the rollers start to overrun the press drive due to its sudden deceleration. r

12. In a rotary web printing press, a printing mechanism, a web supply, a piess drive, a sheet cutting mechanism, web feed rollers located between the web supply and printing mechanism and between the printing mechanism and sheet cutting mechanism, and combined friction and one-way clutches operatively connecting the press drive and rollers, said clutches having coacting spring pressed friction clutch members operable to provide non-slip connections during the acceleration of the press and slip connections during the running of the press and also having coacting one-way clutch members operable to lock the rollers to the press drive when the rollers start to overrun the press drive due to its sudden deceleration.

13. In a rotary web printing press, a printing mechanism, a web supply. a press drive, a folder, a delivery, web feed rollers located between the web suppl and printing mechanism, between the printing mechanism and the folder and between the folder and delivery, and combined friction and one-way clutches operatively connecting the press drive and rollers, said clutches having coacting spring pressed friction clutch members operable to provide non-slip connections during the acceleration of the press and slip connections dur-v ing the running of the press and also having, coacting one-way clutch members operable to lock the rollers to the press drive when the rollers start to overrun the press drive due to.its sudden deceleration. 1

14. In a rotary web printing press, a printing mechanism, a web supply, a pres drive, a folder, a sheet cutting mechanism, web feed rollers located between the web supply and printing mechanism, between the printing mechanism and folder and between the folder and sheet cutting mechanism; and combined friction and one-way clutches operatively connecting the press drive and rollers, said clutches having coacting spring pressed friction clutch members operable to provide non-slip connections during the acceleration of the press and slip connections during the running of the press and also having coacting oneway clutch members operable to lock the rollers to the press drive when the rollers start to overrun the press drive due to its sudden deceleration.

15. In a rotary web printing press, a printing mechanism, a web supply, a press drive, a web feed roller operable to maintain tension on the web, and a combined friction and one-way clutch interposed between the press drive and roller, said clutch having coacting I spring pressed friction clutch members operable to provide a non-slip connection duringtheacceleration of the press and a slip connection during the running of the press and also having .coacting one-way clutch members operable to lock the roller to the press drive when the roller starts to overrun the press drive due to its sudden deceleration;

16. In a rotary web printing press, a web supply, a press drive, a plurality of web feed rollers operable to maintain tension on the web, and combined friction and one-way clutches interposed between the press drive and the rollers, said clutches having coacting spring pressed friction clutch members operable to provide non-slip connections during the acceleration of the press and slip connections during the running of the press and also having coacting one-way clutchmembers operable to lock the rollers to the press drive when the rollersstart to overrun the press drive due to its sudden deceleration.

' HANS J.- LUEHRS. 

